Dental articulator.



G. B. SNOW.

DENTAL ARTICULATOR.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1915.

1 1 60, 1 1 4;. Patented Nov. 9, 1915.

179 16 9 0 3 1 L9 J6 J6 J9 l I a Z5 2.) g 7 E J r JJ COLUMBIA FLANOGRAPH60.. WASHINGTON. D. c.

GEORGE B. SNOW, OF LONG BEACH, CALIF!)RNIA,v ASSIGNOR T SNOW DENTALCOMPANY, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

DENTAL ARmIcULATon;

' To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Gnoner BURWELL SNOW, acitizen of the United States,and a resident of the city of Long Beach, in the county of Los Angelesand State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovementsin' Dental Articulators, of which the following is aspeclficatlon, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, in whichFigure 1 represents a dental articulator to which myimprovements havebeen applied.' Fig. Qis an enlarged view, in section, showing'ftheinternal construction of my spring cushion. Fig. 3 shows a modified formof my spring cushion, in which a fiat spring is substituted for thespiral spring shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a lateral View, showing theupper and lower model supports 1 of the articulator in part, with, theincisal stay rod and its platform, attached 'to the upper and lowermodel supports respectively, the platform being capable of rotation uponthe lower model support. Fig. 5 is a lateral view of a'platform, made intwo sections; one being attached to the model support, with the platformproper attached thereto and capable of lateral rotation upon it, asshown in Fig. 6. Fig. 6 is a front view of the platform shown in Fig. 5.Fig. 7 is a sectional view of the same platform. Figs. 8, 9and 10 show amodified form of the platform.

This invention is an improvement upon the dental articulator describedand claimed in the 'United StatesPatent No. 870,909, issued November 12,190

I have found that in'the use of this articulator, that unless it iscarefully handled, the upper and lower modelsupports are apt to besprung together, and the articulation of the dentures under constructionthereby deranged. I have therefore added the Well known incisal stayrod, having improved upon the ordinary method of mounting it.

by making its platform adjustable in inclination, as will be hereinafterdescribed.

I have also interposed spring cushions in the jOlIltS of the articulatorfor the purpose of imitating the directly lateral movement of themandible in the direction of the inter-:

condyloid line, which it is well to take into account when constructingartificial dentures.

In the articulator shown in Fig. 1, the lower section is not directlyconnected to the Specification of Letters Patent.

' upper one,

lator shown in Patent of these links is varied at times upon the twosides of the articulator, as the move ments of the condyles vary intheir inclination in different patients, and are not always v alike 0nthe two sides of the same'head. (The above description applies to thearticu- No. 870,909, as well as the one described herein). The uppersection carries its model support 3, and the lower section its modelsupport 4; both being made of round wire, bent to the required shapes.

To the upper model support is firmly attached the arm 5, having avertical hole at its free extremity, through which passes the incisalstay rod 6, secured by the set screw 7. The lower end of the stay rodrests upon the inclined platform 8, which-is attached to the lower modelsupport 4. Whenever the inclination of the links 9 is varied, theinclination of theplatform 8, which is attached to the lower model support 4, should be correspondingly varied;

but it usually forms an integral part of the model support; which iscast instead of be 'ing formed of round wire, and its inclinationcannot, therefore, be changed. As I show it, it is a separate part,having a cross hole 12, through which the wire is passed which forms themodel support before it is bent .into the required shape; the two partsbeing attached by means of soft solder. If

a very fusible alloy is used for this purpose, the union may be brokenby a heat much below'thatof boiling water, and the parts will becomere-united when they cool; and in this way, the platform-may be rotatedvertically upon the model support and given any inclination desired.This platform is shown at 8, Fig. 4:. By using easy flowing solder forconnecting the parts, I am enabled -to dispense with set screws or"gripping devices, which, in this place, would be cumbersome andobjectionable.

Patented N (W. 9, 1915. Application filed June 29, 1915. Serial No.37,034.

the curved cular movements of one section of the articu- 'lator upon theother.

- into two sections,

"the lower model support section in Fig. view of the same platform, andit'is shown in dotted lines as tilted laterallyupongthe pintle 13'.

bythe same easy flowing 11, and threaded for the which has not beenshown'inany ing easy movement.

arcs, the centersfrom which they are struck being in the articulatorjoints on either side,

faces of the links 9 allowing 01rsiderable difference in the inclinationof the .two links 9, 1 meet it by giving the platform a lateralinclination as shown in Figs. 6 and 8; thus making the V lncisal' staypm more precipitous on one side shaped pathf of'the and. less so on theother. Forth-is purpose, I show at Fig. 5, a platform similar in generaloutline to 8, Figs. 1 and 1, but divided 10 and 11. Section 10 hole 12which receives 4, and has upon its side a pintle 13, upon which isfastened the section 11. This. is shown in central vertical 7. Fig. .6,is anend or front contains the cross are. to be connected solder usedfor atthe model-support,

The parts taching the platform to andso by slightly warming them, theymay desired in- 3 he loosened and adjusted to any clination, verticallyor laterally.

Tn'Figs. 8, 9 and shown as extending through thczplatform holds theparts securely, and so,.the lateral adjustment may be elfected'withoutdisturbing the'vefrtical .one.

--There is a direct lateral movement of the condyles' of the mandiblein. the glenoid fossze in a way; which so far. asI am aware,

the purpose of imitofore constructed, For 7 V I use the spring tatingthis movement,

cushions which are constructed as follows.

(See Flg. The cheek piece 16, presents afflat surface to the link 9,allowing of an easy shding movement .of-one part upon the other, and thejoint pin 17=is received'into theslot 18 in link 9.. A cup 19,isthreaded intowthe arm 15 of the lower section 2 of the articulator,and-into this is received the cup 20, formed upon the back of the cheekpiece 16; the two parts fitting closely, but allow- A spiral spring-21occupies the cavityformed by the telescoping of thetwo cups 19 and 20,which-forces the cheek piece 16inward against the link9. "A screw22passes centrally through the spiral spring, 16, its head 23,shouldering against the outer This screw limits the and is threadedinto'the cheek piece surface of the cup 20.

co ies of this atent may be' obtained for followed by the point of the 6uponthe platform 8, will I the curved face of link When there is a con-10, theupintle 13 isthumb .nut 1-1,

. model support, laterally upon the first section,fg substan- ..100, 3.Spring cushions interposed between the articulator here--,

' screw bolt, toregulate five cents each, by'aildressing-the Washington,D. 0.: if

action of the spiral spring 9, allowing easy movement of one upon'the'other, without 21,50 that the I cheek piece 16 isbarely out of contactwith lateral shake. A steady pin 28 prevents the rotation of the cheekpiece 16 and holds it level. By lateral pressure uponeither one I ofthelinks 9, the opposing one of the two is pressed against,

lateral movecheek pieces 16, which will yield, allowing a direct yment', the parts recovering their original po Sltl OIlSilS soon aspressure 1s released. QAndin this way Tam enabled to lmltate the 1slight lateral movement which is executed by the mandible duringmastication,- hereto fore mentioned.

In Fig. 3 is shown an alternativeconstruction of the spring cushion inwhich a;-flat.

spring is substituted/for the spiral'spring shown in Fig. 2. A. cup26forms an integral' part of the arm 15, and; through it passesanextension of the cheek piece 16, threaded at its. end. A nut. 25' limitsfthe movement of the flat spring, which is attached to thelowersection"2by the screws 27. .The'operationof thedevice is precisely thesame asthat of theone'shown in Fi.g. l-iaving thus described my 'mventlons, .I'

claimas follows. Y

1. In a dental articul tor, aplatform for an 'incisal stay rod.rotatable vertically upon the modelrsupporfl substantially as described.

. 2. In a dental articulator, a, platform for an incisal stay, rod, made,in two-sections, one section rotatable vertically, upon the the othersection rotatable tially as described. j I two sections of-a dental;artio'ulator and forming. parts of the joints thereof, said cushionsaffording a directlateral movement along the intercondyloid line, as setforth.

1. A spring joint of a dental articulator,.consisting of substantiallycushion interposed in. the

a hollow cylindrical bearing surface at- I 1s. M.- Ron} R. E. JENNINGS.

substantially as de- Z enon'eit B, snow.

Commissioner of Patents.

